Ed Ray was born to George Kimburn Pierce and Jessie E. Pierce in Sudbury, MA on April 14th, 1921. He was raised throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. He was the youngest of six siblings, Angie Dalton, George Pierce, Frankie Pierce, Florence Conant, and Marian Kenney.

He married Barbara May Keyser, on September 14th, 1940. They lived in Worcester, MA. Their son, George Edward Pierce, was born April 1941. They moved to Richland, WA around 1946. Ed was employed at the Hanford Project in bus transportation. He began working for Dupont, General Electric, Arco, Rockwell and Fluor Hanford. Their daughter, Karen Lorraine Pierce, was born March 1950.

Ed Ray, as the family and close friends called him loved to fish and travel some, but the love of his life was to dance and listen to music, especially, the Swing era. Ray was widowed in 1987. In his later years he met and married Penny Pearl Warwick. They had fun times following the jazz circuit and loved dressing up for all of the Eagles’ special dances. He lost Penny to pancreatic cancer and never married again.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Karen & Tom Cowan. He is also survived by four grandsons and their spouses, Harley & Carrie Cowan, Timothy Cowan, Scott & JoLie Cowan, and Christopher Cowan. Also two granddaughters survive him, Patty Willette and Carol Pierce. Grandpa was lucky to have known two great-grandsons, Cameron Willette and Henry R. Cowan. Uncle Ray is also survived by many nieces, nephews and many cousins.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara and son, George. Ed was also widowed by his second wife, Penny. Ray was only 15 yrs. young when he lost his father. His mother left him while living with his family in Richland in 1953. Also his brothers, George, and Frankie and his sisters, Angie, Florence, and Marian preceded him in death.

Ed was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Central United Protestant Church and the Richland Seniors Association.

Einan’s Funeral Home will be in charge of cremation and burial at the Old Richland Cemetery. No services will be held at this time.

We would like to thank Kadlec Medical Staff, Richland Rehab Center, but mostly Caring with Love & Laughter Adult Family Home in Kennewick, caregiver, Jacob Gustafson, and staff. Many thanks for the care given by Hospice, at The Chaplaincy. Donations may be made to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy in his memory.

We will miss your big blue eyes and remember the fun times, “that’s a Beetle”.